M
Moomba
Guest
One upon a time in a small Iowa market, Tall Paul began to think about his undeveloped FM. The co-owned AM was doing well. Little Lenny was the PD and despite his times off for fishing and hunting, Tall Paul was satisfied with his performance of duties. Then one day Tall Paul opened Broadcasting Magazine and in a few weeks John T. Balls rode in from the east. John T. was the new FM PD but not only that, he was going to replace the aging CE as well. As time went on, John T. saw first hand how life in the slow lane was going to be. But no problem, he liked the market and its people. He respected the job Little Lenny was doing even if Little Lenny didn't respect him. You see, at first Little Lenny was a bit apprehensive about Tall Paul's plan to revitalize the FM. Lenny felt his work load was going to double...more staff, more music more everything! But wait, Tall Paul threw him a curve. Little Lenny was an important part of the stations. He was "A number One", "King of the Hill", "Top of the Heap" (as Frank would sing!). Then in comes this John T. Balls, a bit no-nonsense but a threat. Johnny Boy would have more responsibility. He was the FM PD and CE of both. He was even going to sell.
Little Lenny's resentment increased. Other staff members took note of the snide remarks he made during sales meetings. They wondered why Little Lenny wouldn't even look at John T. when talking about the FM. Tall Paul brought in a sales trainer for a few days and he heard the snide remarks too. He and Little Lenny had a "sit down" where the subject of attitude just happened to come up.
John T. was a competent CE. At the transmitter site he dreaded what he saw. The AM transmitter was clearly a piece for the museum of ancient equipment. The FM transmitter was old but humming along rock steady. John T. respected Little Lenny and the AM performance. He felt sorry the good programing Lenny worked hard on was running thru that piece of junk transmitter. Then one day it happened!
The transmitter wouldn't come on! Which one? Guess what...the FM! As soon as John T. pressed the switch, the protective circuits took the transmitter off. He went thru all the usual diagnosis. The aging CE was brought in who laughed how strange it was the FM and not the ancient AM transmitter was acting like it was on its last legs. He even chuckled how "maybe a drunken hunter saw a deer on the tower!"
Time went on. As John T. became more and more disgusted, he walked and never looked back. It was a nice market, good people, good town. But he never looked back.
Yes, our other cast of characters...
Tall Paul went on into eternity. At first he thought Johnny Boy was just a bit too much talk and not enough action. But later, he saw Little Lenny, the little boy wallowing in jealousy and envy. De De Dinah was one of the sales people who attended the meetings. All she wanted to do was earn extra money for her family. She left and became a good mother, wife and church lady all away from the little games. Wavy Hair Willy the real star of the station became a star in a major market. A good guy. Hammer Head Harry loved cars and his new wife. He needed a real income and left to pursue mechanics. Donny Dollar the "aging CE" loved his work. He enjoyed being on the air more than fixing the equipment. But he was a busy man! After he left the stations in his beat up old car, he checked in for another session at the junior college. Today, Donnie enjoys radio and the money he has earned by studying and implementing financial investment strategy.
John T. Balls enjoys reading his stock portfolio way down by the palm trees. Oh yes, he's still in radio...boy is he ever.
But wait, what ever happened to Little Lenny? He donates to the church, to the hospital and even gets his picture in the paper. He watches the sky. Somehow that dark cloud is still up there. During one hunting trip, for some unusual reason his mind wondered to the civil war era. "Lincoln freed the slaves", he remembered.
Yep they did. But back then they didn't have telephones. Today, that ring could be bad news. It could be that man waiting in the lobby knows a little something.
Guilt. Another word for slavery? Bang bang!!!
Little Lenny's resentment increased. Other staff members took note of the snide remarks he made during sales meetings. They wondered why Little Lenny wouldn't even look at John T. when talking about the FM. Tall Paul brought in a sales trainer for a few days and he heard the snide remarks too. He and Little Lenny had a "sit down" where the subject of attitude just happened to come up.
John T. was a competent CE. At the transmitter site he dreaded what he saw. The AM transmitter was clearly a piece for the museum of ancient equipment. The FM transmitter was old but humming along rock steady. John T. respected Little Lenny and the AM performance. He felt sorry the good programing Lenny worked hard on was running thru that piece of junk transmitter. Then one day it happened!
The transmitter wouldn't come on! Which one? Guess what...the FM! As soon as John T. pressed the switch, the protective circuits took the transmitter off. He went thru all the usual diagnosis. The aging CE was brought in who laughed how strange it was the FM and not the ancient AM transmitter was acting like it was on its last legs. He even chuckled how "maybe a drunken hunter saw a deer on the tower!"
Time went on. As John T. became more and more disgusted, he walked and never looked back. It was a nice market, good people, good town. But he never looked back.
Yes, our other cast of characters...
Tall Paul went on into eternity. At first he thought Johnny Boy was just a bit too much talk and not enough action. But later, he saw Little Lenny, the little boy wallowing in jealousy and envy. De De Dinah was one of the sales people who attended the meetings. All she wanted to do was earn extra money for her family. She left and became a good mother, wife and church lady all away from the little games. Wavy Hair Willy the real star of the station became a star in a major market. A good guy. Hammer Head Harry loved cars and his new wife. He needed a real income and left to pursue mechanics. Donny Dollar the "aging CE" loved his work. He enjoyed being on the air more than fixing the equipment. But he was a busy man! After he left the stations in his beat up old car, he checked in for another session at the junior college. Today, Donnie enjoys radio and the money he has earned by studying and implementing financial investment strategy.
John T. Balls enjoys reading his stock portfolio way down by the palm trees. Oh yes, he's still in radio...boy is he ever.
But wait, what ever happened to Little Lenny? He donates to the church, to the hospital and even gets his picture in the paper. He watches the sky. Somehow that dark cloud is still up there. During one hunting trip, for some unusual reason his mind wondered to the civil war era. "Lincoln freed the slaves", he remembered.
Yep they did. But back then they didn't have telephones. Today, that ring could be bad news. It could be that man waiting in the lobby knows a little something.
Guilt. Another word for slavery? Bang bang!!!